Clothes-washing implement



March 3, 1931. E. H. M CAULEY CLOTHES WASHING IMPLEMENT Filed Feb. 5.1928 INVENTOR. Y au Z 2% ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 3, 1931 PATENT OFFECE ETTA H. MGCAULEY, 01' NEW YORK, N.Y.

CLOTHES-WASHING IMPLEMENT Application filed February 3, 1928. Serial No.251,566.

The present invention consists of aclothes washing implement which isparticularly adapted for hand use to force the wash water through theclothes for the purpose of effecting thorough cleansing of the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide a washing implement whichmay be manipulated without the expenditure of much manual effort andgreatly expedites the washing of theficlothes in a thorough manner.

A further object of the invention is to provide a washing element whichis simple 1n construction and inexpensive, and may be used as a manualimplement or in a mechanically operated washing machine with equallyeffective results.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the followingdescription of the present preferred form of the invention, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is avertical sectional view of an implement constructed in accordance withthe present invention, showing the handle fraginentarily; and,

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the same.

The device of the present invention consists of a suction head generallydesignated 3, which in the presentinstance, is shown to be ofsemi-spherical configuration and may be made of rubber or other suitablematerial. A handle receiving socket'4 issues from the closed end of thehead and has mounted therein a handle 5 which may be of any desiredlength. The marginal edge of the head is thickened, as indicated at 6,and is provided with a series of recesses 7 therein, each of whichcommunicates with an opening 8 which extends upwardly an appreciabledistance into the wall of the head, as illustrated in Figure l. Therecesses 7 serve as cups and when pressure is exerted on the head, thecups dilate with the result that the openings 8 are enlarged. This notonly permits the recesses or cups to be flexed to a point where thebottom of the cup is uniplanar with the margin of the head, but inaddition permits the water to pass through the cup, even though only fora short distance, to thereby insure circulation of the water through theclothes at the point where the head impinges the latter.

An annular series of cups 9 is formed on the inner periphery of the head3, adjacent the socket 4, each cup communicating with an opening 10which passes completely through the head 3. The head 3 is of courserelatively shallow so that the exertion of pressure on the handle 5causes the head to be flexed outwardly, so as to bring the cups 9 intocontact with the clothes being washed. Preferably the wall of the head3, at the point where the cups 9 are formed thereon, is thickened inorder to prevent premature deterioration at this point where thepressure is applied. The cups 9 engage the clothes so as to draw themagainst the annuli of the cups. When pressure is exerted upon the handle5, the openings 10 will expand sufliiently to permit the passage ofwater therethrough, thereby effecting circulation of water through theclothes.

It is also desirable that the head 3 be provided with a series ofopenings 11 which extend around the head at a point approximately midwaythe ends of the latter. These openings are, in the present instance,shown to extend around the head in the same plane, but if desired theymay be staggered. These openings also permit passage of watertherethrough when the head is depressed through the instrumentality ofthe handle 5, in order to permit circulation of water through theclothes and the head.

It has been found in use of this device that when the head is placedover an article of clothing, the portion of the article encom passed bythe head is drawn into the latter and the suction is sufiiciently greatto draw water through the clothes and through the head with an extremelydesirable cleansing effect upon the article of clothing, and withouttearing or damaging the latter in any way. The portion of the headadjacent the socket l which contains the cups 9 has little or noflexibility, the flexure of the head being almost entirely limited tothe portion of the head beyond the cups 9. lVhere the head is used in amechanical washing machine, the

theoryoof operation is the same and any num f ber of heads may be used.

., Although I have herein described the preferred form of my invention,it is of course to be understood that various changes may be madetherein Within the scope of the claim hereto appended.

What is claimed is: V A clothes Washing implement including a suctionheadembodying a hollow semi-spherical flexible portion, the inner Walland marginal edge of which are each fo 'med to. provide cups, each ofhich has an opening which extends through the head.

'ETTA MOCAULEY.

